Boy Scout builds Little Free Library for his school

WARREN — Ian Sideris, 11, took the microphone from his Principal at Warren Elementary School on Feb. 15 and gave a brief overview of little free libraries. Ian had a lot of support during the unveiling of the little free library he had built, since gathered in the school gymnasium were his parents Billie Jean and Peter Sideris, his grandmother and all his classmates and teachers who attended the Grand Opening. Also present were Warren School Principal Angela Rossbach and Region 6 Superintendent Chris Leone.

The ceremony began with the pledge of allegiance followed with the raising of flags. Ian explained that the small hand prints on both sides of the box were emblematic of the tradition that each new Warren student leaves a painted hand print on the gym wall, which stays there throughout their tenure.

Ian’s father, Peter Sideris, began the Morris Boy Scout Troop 28 in 2014 so he could give his three sons the scouting experience. Older brother Nathan, 15, has also built a little free library that is awaiting placement.

The school’s little free library is one of 50 in Northwest Connecticut that founder of Little Free Library at StoneHill Rose Buckens and partner Jo Ann Jaacks inspired and registered with www.littlefreelibrary.org, which has registered 84,000 throughout the world.

Rose Buckens gave two kits to Morris Boy Scout Troop 28 and the scouts assembled them, with Ed Lillis of Morris supplying the metal roofs.

Photos by Jo Ann Jaacks/ For Hearst Connecticut Media Ian Sideris proudly showed the little free library to his classmates.